Energy

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Electricity and energy use account for 90% of UMD’s carbon footprint, making energy both an environmental and economic concern. Reducing energy use is a top priority in making our campus more sustainable, yet with growing energy needs at a busy research university, this can be a complicated undertaking.

UMD Energy Research Workshop 2016

In Facilities Management, this is an ongoing challenge that has been on the forefront for decades; in fact, even with a 40% increase in the size of our campus, energy efficiency projects helped the campus avoid adding any extra boilers in our heating plant.

UMD buildings are heated by a central natural gas-fired heating plant with three main boilers. Although natural gas is relatively clean-burning, it is also a non-renewable fossil fuel that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

The electricity we purchase comes from Minnesota Power. Although our utility is committed to reducing emissions and integrating renewables into their fuel mix, their generation is still dominated by fossil fuels. Energy efficiency, conservation and renewable investments are all important ways to reduce our carbon emissions.

New LED lighting along campus streets and parking lots cuts energy use in half and is Dark Sky compliant.

Green Revolving Fund

The UMD Green Revolving Fund invests in energy-saving projects at UMD to save energy and become a more sustainable campus. These projects provide long-term financial savings to the University, and energy rebates help to pay back into the fund, building equity and helping fund future projects.